With poignant moments and an engaging plot, the first act of the film Rebel is finely written. But in the second half, the film becomes more political and action-packed, losing its driving force.
Gist of the Story
Two Munnar-born Tamil students were admitted to a Palakkad college in the early 1980s. The injustice and harassment they experience there, together with their acts of reprisal, make up for the entire movie.
| Director | Nikesh |
| Cinematography | Arun Radhakrishnan |
| Music | G V Prakash Kumar |
| Producer | K. E. Gnanavel Raja |
| Production | Studio Green |
| Lyrics | Arunraja Kamaraj |
| Art Direction | Pappanadu C Uthayakumar |
| Stunt Choreography | Sakthi Saravanan |
| Dance Choreography | Sabarish |
Detailed Plot
The story, which takes place in Munnar, Kerala in the 1980s, revolves around the predicament of Tamil laborers working on plantations. When Kathir (GV Prakash Kumar) and his pals are sent to a college in Chittur, Palakkad, they learn that the persecution their family endured at the estate has taken on a new form since knowledge is the only thing that can save them from this hellhole. Its members alternate in degrading Kathir and company in various ways, under the direction of two student organizations that are branches of the state’s political parties.
Artistes’ Performances
As the young person stuck between two groups of Malayalam students, GV Prakash has done a great job, and he has enough of room to shine here because the narrative has both humorous and poignant backdrops. Audiences will love his “Senthazham Poove” moment and the intermission. Mamitha Baiju is a fantastic fit for the Malayali part; her early scenes made sense, but her entire character development might have been scripted with more wisdom; she doesn’t understand her faults until the very end, merely for show. Aditya Baskar has a weak role and is used mostly as an emotional instrument, hence it has little effect.
Direction / Technical Side
The filmmaker skillfully crafts a plot in the first part of the movie that puts its characters in difficult circumstances and expands on the meaning of the title. Up until that point, the movie has been really well done; it contains some extremely moving passages as well as ones that will resonate with viewers. But the second part of the movie is quite somber and dry, as it really delves into the political landscape with elections, rivalries, and other ongoing events. The movie loses its momentum in the second half as it becomes more action and dialogue-heavy, and it becomes more of a political picture for individuals with narrow interests.
Nevertheless, these grandiose sequences quickly become ridiculous, portraying Kathir as a semi-god, a rescuer, and the sole chance for their community’s atonement from the atrocities inflicted against them. At times, one may question if the rebel is only an admirer of a cause or a real hero. It’s hard to fit ourselves into a society where every Malayali is a one-dimensional, agenda-driven villain who would gladly have breakfast in the life of a Tamilian. Supporting the victim is one thing, but portraying every Malayalam-speaking character in the movie as oppressors is quite another.
Rebel is an intensely commercial production. There are no creative choices made in this movie that deviate from the pattern. The way the narrative is told isn’t perfect or novel. Fundamentally, GV Prakash Kumar’s portrayal of the protagonist Kathir and his struggle to overcome the discrimination he suffers as a Tamil man are compelling. To emphasize the horrible situation he is in, the filmmakers overdo it by including hackneyed scene after cliched scene. And you are aware that it is not a part of the story; rather, it has been carefully chosen to tug at your heartstrings.
Verdict;
Rebel’s first act is a finely written film with poignant moments and a compelling story. The second section, on the other hand, focuses on political rivalry and events and becomes gloomy and dry. In the second part of the film, the action level increases and it becomes more political & cliched.